A system and method for obtaining measurements across a width of material being processed is provided, which includes a near-infrared (NIR) detector head (102) which reads and transmits an NIR signal that has been reflected from the material, and a fiber-optic cable (106) through which the signal is transmitted to a processor located remotely from the material being processed. A moisture level reading can be obtained in a drying apparatus and used to aid in controlling the operation of the dryer. The detector head (102) is mounted to a traversing beam (105) and the detector head (102) is capable of traveling to positions across the width of the material being processed.